In a world that expects all women to become mothers, what happens to those who circumvent motherhood?
Now and throughout history, women without children have been misunderstood and even vilified for not conforming to the prescriptive path of daughter, wife, mother, whether by choice, circumstance, or ambivalence. But with an increasing number of people choosing to forego children, Nicole Louie knew she was not alone. As she recounts her own journey toward embracing a life without children, Louie weaves in stories from the women around the world she found in her search for community and guidance, from their pasts to their presents to their hopes for the future.
Others Like Me is a candid, tender, and distinctive exploration of how fourteen women found fulfillment and flourished outside of motherhood, upending stereotypes and offering reassurance and recognition down a much-treaded but lesser-known track.
In a world that expects all women to become mothers, what happens to those who circumvent motherhood?
Now and throughout history, women without children have been misunderstood and even vilified for not conforming to the prescriptive path of daughter, wife, mother, whether by choice, circumstance, or ambivalence. But with an increasing number of people choosing to forego children, Nicole Louie knew she was not alone. As she recounts her own journey toward embracing a life without children, Louie weaves in stories from the women around the world she found in her search for community and guidance, from their pasts to their presents to their hopes for the future.
Others Like Me is a candid, tender, and distinctive exploration of how fourteen women found fulfillment and flourished outside of motherhood, upending stereotypes and offering reassurance and recognition down a much-treaded but lesser-known track.
| Published By | House of Anansi Press Inc — Nov 5, 2024 |
| Specifications | 364 pages | 5.5 in x 8.5 in |
| Keywords | interviews; trailblazing women; international; memoir; subversive; women's rights; breaking with tradition; sisterhood; Sheila Heti; womanhood without motherhood; millenial; r/regretfulparents; Gen X; Gen Z; Gen Alpha; reproductive rights; Roe V. Wade; supreme court; Tracee Ellis Ross; Dolly Parton; |
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Supporting Resources
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Excerpt Guide |
| Written By |
NICOLE LOUIE is a writer and translator based in Ireland. Her essays have appeared in Oh Reader Magazine, The Walrus and The Guardian, and her curated collections of books, movies and podcasts about women who are not mothers by choice, infertility, circumstance or ambivalence can be found on Instagram: @bynicolelouie. Others Like Me: The Lives of Women Without Children is her first book.
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| Written By |
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NICOLE LOUIE is a writer and translator based in Ireland. Her essays have appeared in Oh Reader Magazine, The Walrus and The Guardian, and her curated collections of books, movies and podcasts about women who are not mothers by choice, infertility, circumstance or ambivalence can be found on Instagram: @bynicolelouie. Others Like Me: The Lives of Women Without Children is her first book.
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"Tender, emotive and quietly revelatory."— Irish Times
"A must-read for everyone." — Stylist
“An affirming account of the lives of childless and child-free women.” — Library Journal
“Diligently researched and thoughtfully organized, Others Like Me is an honest look at the diverse identities and life paths of childless women.” — Maisonneuve
“Louie presents brief, stylized first-person vignettes drawn from interviews with 14 other childless women, who offer up an intriguing range of rationales … as well as sharp insights into both childlessness and parenthood.” — Publisher’s Weekly
"Others Like Me is an honest reflection of a wide range of childfree women’s emotions and experiences … An essential read." — Image Magazine
“An uplifting read about finding fulfilment outside of motherhood." — Gloss Magazine
“Others Like Me is invaluable … There is a type of kinship offered by this new collection.” — Herizons
“Right from the opening pages, [Nicole Louie] treats the stories of her subjects and herself with gentleness and care.” — The /tƐmz/ Review
“A great read for those interested in the lives of people without children.” — Quebec Library Association
"A distinctive, original book, Louie’s approach to childless lives is thoughtful and empathetic. I couldn't get enough of her beautiful, lyrical prose and the care with which she holds other women’s stories. While it doesn’t shy away from some hard conversations, this book is ultimately uplifting." — Caroline Magennis, author of Harpy: A Manifesto for Childfree Women
”"What a unique addition to the genre exploring women without children! Creatively interweaving her story with the stories of women she interviewed, with candour and self-reflection, Nicole Louie takes us on her journey to a deeper understanding of wanting a life that does not include motherhood. Beautifully crafted, this book shows us how inner work and learning from others leads to living assuredly in our truths." — Laura Carroll, author of The Baby Matrix: Why Freeing Our Minds from Outmoded Thinking About Parenthood and Reproduction Will Create a Better World
”"Deeply felt and deeply researched, books like this will help women decide what is right for them." — Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, author of The Sleep Watcher
”“Others Like Me is an important, beautiful, self-excavating memoir about female autonomy and joy found in childlessness, told with great tenderness.” — Nuala O’Connor, author of Seaborne
”"Lyrical, full of insight, humanity and compassion." — Clodagh Finn, author of Through Her Eyes: A New History of Ireland in 21 Women
”"Lyrical, full of insight, humanity and compassion." — Clodagh Finn, author of Through Her Eyes: A New History of Ireland in 21 Women
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